In 2023, the Shanxi Provincial Education Bureau commissioned GPLRC to design and deliver an intensive Phonics Teacher Training Programme aimed at improving foundational English literacy skills across multiple primary schools in Shanxi Province. The project targeted English teachers who lacked formal phonics training and sought to equip them with evidence-based, systematic synthetic phonics pedagogy adapted for large, mixed-ability classrooms typical in the region.

Project Objectives

• Empower 38 English teachers from 17 primary schools with research-based synthetic phonics instructional methods.
• Improve student decoding, blending, and reading fluency by embedding phonics into daily teaching routines.
• Adapt international phonics best practices to meet local linguistic and resource constraints.
• Establish a sustainable phonics teaching community within Shanxi to support ongoing teacher development.

Key Project Components

1. Intensive On-Site Workshops

• Delivered over 4 consecutive days, focusing on:
  • The science of reading and phonemic awareness fundamentals.
  • Grapheme–phoneme correspondence (GPC) teaching strategies.
  • Systematic lesson planning and pacing for phonics instruction.
  • Differentiated instruction for mixed-ability and multilingual learners.
  • Classroom management techniques for phonics lessons in large classes.
  • Formative assessment tools for monitoring student progress.

2. Live Classroom Demonstrations

• GPLRC trainers conducted live phonics lessons in partner classrooms, showcasing practical application of methods.
• Teachers observed and participated in post-lesson reflection discussions emphasizing adaptation techniques for local contexts.

3. Micro-Teaching & Peer Feedback

• Teachers delivered short phonics lesson segments to peers with structured observation.
• Trainers used GPLRC’s Phonics Instruction Observation Rubric to provide targeted, constructive feedback focused on fidelity and student engagement.

4. Resource Development & Distribution

• Teachers received a comprehensive phonics teaching toolkit:
  • A locally adapted phonics scope and sequence aligned with the Chinese academic calendar.
  • Printable decodable readers and phoneme flashcards.
  • Lesson plan templates and assessment checklists.
  • Low-cost classroom aids such as sound mats and wall charts.

5. Follow-Up Coaching & Remote Support

• Following the on-site training, biweekly online mentoring sessions supported teachers for 8 weeks.
• Teachers shared video recordings of their phonics lessons for expert review.
• Open Q&A sessions addressed challenges related to student diversity and resource constraints.

Impact and Outcomes

Teacher Development

• 97% of participating teachers reported significant increases in confidence and ability to deliver systematic phonics instruction.
• Observation scores improved by an average of 28% in instructional quality and classroom management.
• 12 teachers were identified as phonics “champions” to lead future training in their schools.

Student Literacy Improvements (Sample Data from 6 Schools)

• Average letter–sound recognition accuracy increased by 20%.
• Decoding accuracy of consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) words rose from 54% to 77%.
• Notable improvements in oral reading fluency and student engagement during phonics lessons.

Sustainability

• Five schools formally integrated GPLRC’s phonics scope and sequence into their English curricula.
• Establishment of a Shanxi province-wide teacher peer network facilitating ongoing collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
• Development of plans to expand phonics training to other districts within the province.

GPLRC’s Professional Role

• Curriculum Adaptation: Tailored internationally recognized synthetic phonics frameworks to Shanxi’s multilingual classrooms and academic schedules.
• Expert Training Delivery: Provided immersive, hands-on teacher development focusing on practical skill acquisition and classroom applicability.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Utilized formative assessment tools and observation rubrics to measure teacher progress and student learning outcomes.
• Capacity Building: Fostered local leadership by mentoring phonics champions, ensuring long-term project impact and sustainability.
• Resource Provision: Supplied schools with culturally and linguistically appropriate teaching materials and aids designed for resource-limited settings.

Participant Testimonials

“This training completely changed how I teach reading. My students are now decoding words confidently and participating more actively in class.”
— Grade 3 English Teacher, Taiyuan

“Seeing the trainers model lessons and then receiving direct feedback helped me improve immediately. The ongoing support made a real difference.”
— School English Coordinator, Shanxi Province

Future Directions

Building on the success of this programme, GPLRC is collaborating with the Shanxi Education Bureau to:

Launch targeted early reading intervention programmes for struggling learners.

Expand phonics teacher training to additional cities and rural areas.

Develop blended professional development modules combining in-person and online training.